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E. F. NEEDHAM.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1|, 1920- 1,375,103. Patented Apr. 19,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

V EN Tb filiiw A TORNEY.

E. F. NEEDHAM.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1 I, 1920. I 1,375,103. Patented Apr. 19, 1821;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

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UNITED STATES .PATENT QEFEQ-a.

EDWARD F. NEEDHAM, OF HOUSTON, TEXELS, ASSIGNOR 0F 0NE- IALF TO JAMESDONALD HALL.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed August 11, 1.929.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. NEEDHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in l Vall Construction, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a wallconstruction.

One object of the invention is to provide a wall constructed of concreteslabs suitably spaced apart and securely anchored together, thus forminga wall which is hollow, which permits the free circulation of airtherethrough, which is light and will require a minimum amount ofmaterial and which at the same time is of sufficient strength to sustainthe strains to which it will be subjected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall which is ofcomparatively simple construction and which may consequently be cheaplyand easily erected.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of partsand use, an example of which is given in this specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aperspective View ofa section of a wall, shown partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the free ends of the wallslabs and illustrating the method of anchoring them together.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section of a wall, shown partially insection, and partially broken away, illustrating another form of theconstruction.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the wall slabs of this modified formillustrating the method of anchoring them together, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top plate employed inthe erection of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1designates the base plate which is preferably formed of concrete and iscarried upon a suitable foundation (not shown). The upper side of thisplate has a dovetailed groove 52 therein to receive the lower ends ofthe wall slabs 3 and 1. The groove 2 is of considerable width and theopposing Wall slabs are set near the opposite sides thereof, and mortaris then poured in plastic state into the dovetailed portions of thegroove on the outer sides of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Serial No. 402,774.

the lower ends of the respective slabs and permitted to harden, formingthe keys 5, 5.

The wall slabs 3 and 4t have the end ribs 6 extending at right anglesthereto, the said ribs 6 of the adjoining ends of the respective slabsfitting together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and extending from thelower end of the slabs near the upper end thereof by falling slightlyshort of said upper end, as shown in Fig. 1. It is to be noted that thejoints between the slabs 3 alternate with the joints between the slabs 1and the ribs 6 of said respective slabs alternate when the slabs areerected into the structure. It is to be noted that the ribs 6 span thespace between the double wall, and it is to be further noted that asection 7 of the free edges of said ribs is cut away forming airpassageways to permit the circulation of air throughout the wallstructure. At the joints between the respective slabs, vertical grooves8 are formed which are filled with mortar in plastic state so as tocover up said joints and give a smooth continuous wall surface. Thismortar, while plastic, keys into the keyways 9, formed in the adjacentsides of the ribs 6, and when it hardens it is thereby held practicallyas an integral part of the wall. The wall slabs 3 and 4 are provided attheir upper ends with inwardly extending lugs "10',"10- and 11, 11,which embrace the adjoining ribs 66f'the opposing slabs. Between theadjoining ribs 6, a tie-rod 12 is anchored, whose upper end is threadedto receive a nut 13, and this rod 12 extends up through the concretecap-plate 1a, which is mounted on the wall and also through the timber15 carried by said cap-plate which are held securely anchored togetherby the nut 13. Anchor rods 16, 16 are provided, whose lower ends areanchored between the respective lugs 10, 10, 11, 11 and their adjoiningribs 6 and the upper ends of these anchor rods are embedded to the cap141 to hold it securely in place. in the form shown in Figs. 3, 1 and 5,the base plate 1 having the dovetailed groove 2 is employed as in thecase in the form shown in the other figures. The wall slabs 17 and 18are set into this groove as hereinbcfore described, and secured thereinby means of the keys 5, as explained. The wall slabs 17 and 18 have themarginal inwardly extending ribs 19, 19 and 20, 20. The joints of therespective slabs are broken, that is, are alternately arranged withrespect to the joints of the opposing slabs and the said ribs 19, andalso the ribs 20 of the adjacent edges of the slabs it together in pairsas illustrated in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the ribs 19, 19 and of theribs 20, 20 are set back a distance from the margins of their respectiveslabs, thus spacing said upper ends apart, said spaced ends 21, 21, and22 22 converging, forming a dovetailed socket. A cap plate 23 formed ofconcrete is mounted on the upper ends of said wall slabs and itsunderside is provided with dovetailed projections 24 which fit into therespective sockets between the converging ends 21, 21 and 22, 22respectively, and anchor said cap plate against lengthwise or lateralmovement. The timber 15 is an chored in place by means of the tie-rods25, whose lower ends are secured between the upper ends of the ribs andthe projec ions 24;, and which project up through said cap plate andtimber and whose upper ends r ceive the nuts 26. Anchor rods are alsoprovided in this form as in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Sections 7of the free edges of the ribs are cut away to provide spaces for thecirculation of air, and the cap plates 1 1 and 23 are provided with thecirculating air ports 27.

What I claim is 1. A wall construction, including opposing side slabsspaced apart, the edges of said slabs being formed with ribs whichextend toward the opposing slabs at approximately right angles thereto,the ribs of the adjacent edges of adjoining slabs fitting together, acap plate titted onto the upper edge of the wall, and means foranchoring the same in position thereon, said cap plate having aircirculating openings therethrough which communicate with the spacebetween said opposing side slabs.

2. A wall construction including opposing side slabs spaced apart, theedges of said slabs being formed with ribs which extend toward theopposing slabs at approximately right angles thereto, the ribs of theadjacent edges 0:15 adjoining slabs -i ting together, said ribs havingcut away portions to form air passage, a cap plate fitting onto theupper edge of the wall, and means for anchoring the same in positionthereon, said cap plate having air circulating openings therethroughwhich communicate with the space between said opposing side slabs,whereby continuous horizontal and vertical circulation of air isobtained.

In testimony whereof 1 have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

NEEDHAM.

